Legalization Status

Vermont State Governing Body Information

2018 Marijuana Packaging Laws Update

Although the Green Mountain state kept marijuana illegal for most of the 20th century, it caught up in the new millennium with the passage of the “Act Relating to Marijuana Use by Persons with Severe Illness” by the senate. The 2004 Act became law when the former governor refused to sign it and the time limit expired for him to do so. In subsequent years, the Act was refined and possession of an ounce or less of cannabis was decriminalized. In addition to the medical program, cannabis is legal for medical use and will be legal for recreational use July 1, 2018.

The Green Mountain State’s rules on possession are average, with the possession of 1oz being nothing more than a civil violation for first, second, and further offenses. Over 1oz is a misdemeanor and over 2oz is a felony. When new laws come into effect in 2018, up to 1oz will no longer be punishable. Currently, growing your own marijuana in Vermont is a misdemeanor, until new laws allow privately growing up to six plants and possession the their harvest without penalty.

Vermont Cannabis Laws

To receive medical marijuana in the state of Vermont, a patient must be diagnosed with one of the qualifying conditions, which include everything from commonly accepted diseases like AIDS and cancer, but also patients in hospice care and broader ailments like severe or chronic pain. Patients are allowed to possess up to two ounces of marijuana and are allowed to grow their own marijuana plants, two of them mature and nine in total.

Retail Cannabis Business Rules in Vermont

Under older laws, the state may only have five medical marijuana dispensaries open at one time, but the changing regulations coming in 2018 will no doubt change this. Many states with retail cannabis adopt similar laws for packaging and labeling recreational cannabis as for medical cannabis. Always err on the side of caution and protect your cannabis customers with tamper-evident, child-proof bags and other packages. Always check with the appropriate law enforcement body for specifics, but labeling laws require warnings and statements about the contents.

2017 Marijuana Packaging Laws Update

The Green Mountain State takes a no-nonsense approach to their cannabis packaging and labeling guidelines, describing labels that note the type and weight of marijuana, and only requiring a minimum statement. Dispensaries in Vermont are also only required to keep paperwork about the origins of their product, not put that information on the label. Cannabis edibles are required to have food safety labels as well as information about the amount of cannabis in the product. While our packaging experts couldn’t find any specific mention of the type of containers required, it is always an idea to look for tamper evident and child-resistant packaging that protects your product.

“A registered dispensary shall package all marijuana dispensed in an envelope or other container used and intended for sale.

A label shall be affixed on the packaging of all marijuana that is dispensed. The label shall identify the particular strain of marijuana and the weight of marijuana contained within the package in gram or ounce units. Marijuana strains shall reflect the properties of the plant.

Additionally, the label shall contain a statement to the effect that the State of Vermont does not attest to the medicinal value of cannabis, a statement that this product is not for resale, and clearly, identify “marijuana” is contained within the packaging.

The dispensary shall verify the amount of all marijuana dispensed.

Documentation shall be maintained containing at a minimum the name and registry identification number of the registered dispensary cardholders verifying the amount of marijuana and any errors identified.”